US copper futures extended a bounce from last week's slide to one-month lows early on Monday, but gains were held in check due to lingering worries about bank regulation in the United States and prospects for further Chinese monetary tightening measures.
Benchmark copper for March delivery firmed 4.00 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $3.3870 per lb by 10:37 am EST (1537 GMT) on the New York Mercantile Exchange's COMEX division. Range from $3.3240 to $3.3975. On Friday, key March contract slipped to $3.2670, its lowest level since December 24. COMEX estimated futures volume at 13,719 lots by 10 am.